Will Josh Doctson have an edge on his fellow rookie wideouts since he didn’t declare early for the draft?
A couple of months ago at the deadline for underclassmen to declare early for the NFL Draft, I broke down the top names to watch at the wide receiver position. With the annual NFL Combine now behind us, you’ll find only a few additions to the list below, which serves as an overall snapshot of the top receivers entering into the fantasy football landscape as rookies in 2016. If you take one thing away from this piece, it should be this: don’t reach.
This year’s crop of wide receiver prospects is nowhere near as loaded as the 2014 class, and it’s not as top-heavy as last year’s group. However, there are a handful of players who have a chance to make an impact in 2016 and thus, need to be on your fantasy radar. As always, the rookie landscape will continually shift between now and the season opener as opportunity, scheme fit, health, coachability and countless other variables weed out the field.
Follow along with all of our NFL Draft coverage 
Top Prospects
- Laquon Treadwell (Jr. – Ole Miss)
Widely regarded as the top prospect in this year’s wide receiver class, Treadwell opted not to run the 40-yard dash at the combine. He turned in less-than-stellar numbers in both the vertical (33) and broad jump (9’9”), which has drawn some concerns over his explosiveness, although a fast 40 time at Ole Miss’ Pro Day would go a long way toward solidifying Treadwell’s projection as the first receiver off the board. He caught 82 passes for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015 but is seen as more of a possession receiver in the NFL than someone who is going to consistently run away from speedy defensive backs. Treadwell may not be on the same level as recent blue-chip draft prospects such as Amari Cooper or Sammy Watkins, but as a three-year starter who led the SEC in receiving in 2015, he’ll be coveted by offensive-needy teams seeking an immediate impact.
- Will Fuller (Jr. – Notre Dame)
The Notre Dame standout helped his stock more at the combine after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons and catching 30 touchdowns in 29 career starts for the Fighting Irish. The speedster’s 4.32 40 was the fastest time among wide receivers at the combine, which should not be all that surprising considering he did average 20.5 yards per catch this past season. He also caught every pass thrown his way during field drills. Fuller’s long speed should translate well to the NFL, as will his penchant for tracking deep passes and high-pointing the ball. He may never be a real difference-maker in PPR formats, but a natural playmaker like Fuller warrants a spot on virtually any fantasy roster.
- Corey Coleman (Redshirt Jr. – Baylor)
Coleman won the 2015 Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver, as he finished his junior year at Baylor with 74 catches for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find a productive college receiver in coach Art Briles’ system who then became a dependable weekly fantasy starter in the pros. And while Coleman did consistently light up Big 12 competition, he also had 10 drops in 2015 and went the final four games without a touchdown or a 100-yard receiving game. Don’t automatically discount Coleman just because of the competition level he faced, as a player with his acceleration and run-after-catch ability is not easy to come by. However, he may take some time to become comfortable in a pro-style scheme after running a limited route tree at Baylor. .
- Josh Doctson (Redshirt Sr. – TCU)
TCU’s Doctson is the lone receiver in my top-five who did not declare early, and that extra maturity could serve him well in the NFL. While his ceiling may not be quite as high as the other guys on this list, he may be best suited to hit the ground running and find his way into fantasy lineups sooner than later. The production is hard to ignore, with Doctson having amassed 2,300 yards and 25 TDs through the air over his last two seasons despite missing the final two games of 2015 with a wrist injury. The Horned Frogs don’t have much of a history when it comes to producing top-line NFL receivers, but Doctson could be the exception. He averaged 120.6 yards per game in 2015 and left Fort Worth as the school’s all-time leading receiver. He ran only a 4.5 40 at the combine, but scouts are most impressed with his leaping ability, body control and strong hands. Doctson stood out in the vertical (41 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 11 inches), demonstrating the explosiveness to high-point balls that was evident from his game tape.
- Tyler Boyd (Jr. – Pittsburgh)
Boyd is somewhat of a polarizing prospect. He is not particularly big or fast, but he can impact games in a lot of different ways. As a junior at Pitt, he posted 91 catches for 926 yards and added another 349 yards on 40 carries. It’s worth noting that he missed the 2015 season opener due to a suspension stemming from an offseason DUI arrest, and his receiving numbers dipped off from his sophomore year (78 catches, 1,126 yards, eight TDs). It’s also worth noting that he played with three different starting quarterbacks for the Panthers. Any chance Boyd may have had to sneak into the first round probably went by the wayside with his 4.58 40 time at the combine. Still, he is more of a quick-twitch athlete who can get in and out of breaks and change direction without losing speed. He lined up all over the formation in college and was also productive in the return game. Some team could look to utilize Boyd in a similar fashion in the pros, likening him to a poor man’s Tavon Austin.
Honorable Mention
- Michael Thomas (Redshirt Jr. – Ohio State)
Don’t be swayed by Thomas’ unspectacular stat line (56 receptions for 781 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015), as there may not be a more polished receiver in this year’s class. However, consistent opportunities were limited in Ohio State’s run-based offense that lacked continuity at the quarterback position. Thomas may not be elite in any one category, but he has the physical traits to succeed at the next level despite clocking only a 4.57 40 at the combine. Scouts and coaches tout his precise route-running and solid balls skills as reasons Thomas will have an impact as possession-type receiver in the NFL. He also happens to be the nephew of Keyshawn Johnson, the top overall pick in the vaunted 1996 NFL Draft.
- Sterling Shepard (Sr. – Oklahoma)
Sterling Shepard was a clutch performer for Oklahoma, finishing his senior year with 86 receptions for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns to finish as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award. He fueled the Sooners’ comeback win over Tennessee and also came up big in close wins over the likes of Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State. Shepard is athletic with quick, fluid movements, but his limited size likely has him pegged for a slot role in the pros. He earned Practice Player of the Week among the wide receivers at the Senior Bowl, and he also posted the second-highest vertical among WRs (and ran a 4.48 40) at the combine, even drawing some Randall Cobb comparisons.
- Braxton Miller (Redshirt Sr. – Ohio State)
Whereas Michael Thomas is a savvy route runner, his Buckeyes’ teammate, Miller, is currently a total project in that department. After all, Miller was the star quarterback at Ohio State up until switching over to wide receiver for his senior year. However, he flashed potential as both a runner (260 yards and a TD on 42 carries) and a receiver (341 yards and three TDs on 26 catches), culminating in a breakout game against Virginia Tech. The former Buckeyes’ quarterback is one of the more intriguing names at any position in this draft, and many scouts feel he has the higher athletic ceiling than his OSU teammate, Thomas. Miller dominated opposing cornerbacks during Senior Bowl practices and posted an impressive 6.65-second three-cone drill at the combine, although his 4.5 40 time was perhaps a tad slower than anticipated. He also looked raw, as expected, during position drills. A strong showing at Miller’s Pro Day would reignite some buzz, but ultimately, that buzz won’t extend beyond dynasty formats in 2016.
Follow along with all of our NFL Draft coverage
Mike Castiglione is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, you can view his archive or follow him @RickDancin.
